Sauna Dialysis

The skin is arguably the largest organ of the body and contains 3,ooo,ooo sweat glands similar in function to the 2,ooo,ooo nephrons in the kidney and capable of excreting 1.5-3 liters of fluid per hour compared to the kidney's average 1-2 liters per day along with the same electrolytes and wastes. Protocols using a sauna could be developed to maximize perspiration and waste removal while the patient rehydrates using an electrolyte drink. This would treat mild renal failure, extend the interval between regular dialysis for more severe cases, be lifesaving in the third world and provide a more comfortable experience.

The Cuboid Footwear Sole

Conventional shoe construction neglects several important foot movements, especially transverse arch expansion and toe spread. When in step, the transverse (or metatarsal) arch expands to aid balance while simultaneously spreading the toes for added gripping surface. (This concept can be best displayed by looking at the identical movement in the metatarsals of the hand.) These subtle movements are hindered by conventional footwear, and can lead to chronic pain and weakness.
The Cuboid concept is a sole design which bends at the transverse arch while simultaneously flexing the toe bed to be wider, mimicking the foot's natural movements.

by: Jerod Hugghins | Aug 6, 2010

12 people like this.

Augmented Reality Gym Mirror

When you're working out at the gym, a mirror in front of you shows you a visualization of your future self - thinner, more muscular, generally in better shape than you currently are. This is such a compelling vision that it motivates people to exercise more to move towards matching it. It can start off being installed in high-end gyms, then filter down into Wii-like applications used at home.

by: Lisa Mumbach and Jason Tester, IFTF | Jun 12, 2010

128 people like this.

Home Robot Pharmacy

Put your a fingernail, couple of strands of hair and a swipe of saliva and just like the expresso machine out pops a bottle of pills with all the vitamins and minerals you are short of...copy of the data to your physician.
(it also has optional connection to your scales and blood pressure monitor)

by: Alan Houghton | Jun 22, 2010

19 people like this.

Cure the Veterans, Cure the World

Veterans disproportionately suffer from many life-changing conditions where research is, too often, underfunded. CTV/CTW would provide a web accessible directory of businesses committed to raising or donating specific amounts each year, with revenue being used to fund all stages of cure-focused research. Discoveries, positive and negative, would be published in peer-reviewed, open access journals. Seminars would be streamed freely online. Initial goals include curing PTSD, restoring fuction after TBIs and SCIs, and regenerating skin for burn victims and limbs for amputees. (Image is in Public Domain.)

by: Steven Edwards | Aug 7, 2010

336 people like this.

MSRA Killer

There are two problems with antibiotics: 1)they attack good and bad bacteria indiscriminately, and 2)bacteria are becoming resistant to them. Now imagine a kind of virus that could single out and destroy specific bacteria. Such viruses, called "bacteriophages", occur naturally. But what if we could isolate or create phages that attack only pernicious bacteria, such as MSRA? Eli Lilly began researching phage therapy in the 1940s but abandoned it because antibiotics were easier to develop. Despite this, the Soviets used phages with success during the World War II. Perhaps it is time to revisit phage therapy using modern techniques.

by: Pietro Michelucci | Sep 1, 2010

4 people like this.

Pathogen Sensing Refrigerator

Food-borne illness are a significant concern in the U.S. Refrigerators could be equipped with sensors to detect bacterial contamination by the chemicals given off as gases by many of these bacteria. These types of sensors are already in use at the industrial level of food production. The approximate location of the contaminated food in the refrigerator would be determined by triangulation using multiple sensors placed at different locations in the refrigerator. The individual contaminated food would then be identified by passing each of the suspected items in turn directly in front of one of the sensors.

Neuro-Enrich the Zygote

This idea is to start enriching the brain as early as possible.
To paraphrase neuro-psychiatrist Bruce Perry, "If you're in the healthcare business, you're in the brain change business."
Neurologist Robert Scaer agrees: "(How well the early brain develops) shapes every aspect of existence ... specifically, our physical and mental health. Canadian cancer specialist, Gabor Mate agrees: "The biology of potential illness arises early in life. The brain's stress response mechanisms are programmed ... in infancy. Cancer, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and the other conditions ... are not abrupt new developments in adult life, but culminations of lifelong processes.

We are in the phase of reverse engineering the brain's wiring and we will soon be able to treat neurological diseases with specific neuronal network control.
Despite the progress of Deep Brain Stimulation and Optogenetics we need a non invasive method of controlling neurons.
I propose the creation of an engineered membrane protein that will respond to electromagnetic waves and will stimulate or inhibit neurons.
This protein will be delivered with genetic vectors to the brain. We will able to treat Parkinson's, epilepsy and other neurological disorders with this minimal invasive method without the need of drugs or surgery.

by: Louizos Alexander Louizos | Aug 13, 2010

12 people like this.

A Better Big Brother

I imagine a world where individuals and health professionals are connected via ubiquitous wireless sensor networks. No longer will we have to trust a patient to act solely on the advice of their physician or wait to communicate in person. Instead we will provide them the tools to take their health into their own hands. All the while, facilitating an open link between the behavior and biological functioning of a patient and their medical professional. This will revolutionize all stages of the health care system from prevention to treatment to diagnosis and long-term care.